Residential communities should be built with more than just today in mind; they should focus on the future, thriving against all odds—surviving, adapting, and standing tall.
Whether faced with strong winds, unexpected earthquakes, or rising tides, these constant threats challenge architects and developers to embrace nature, coexist with it. These homes don’t just weather the storm—they thrive in the midst of it.
Stephanie Ann Go, vice president and head of business development and design at Robinsons Land Corporation, emphasized that the once-successful approaches to building and design may no longer suffice in a world that’s constantly evolving. She stressed that we must adapt to these changes to ensure our developments remain sustainable and resilient for the future.
“When we talk about sustainability and resilience, we have to define them specifically. What is sustainability? What is resilience?” Go said. “Sustainability is defined as being able to do important functions without changing quality over time, whereas resilience is being able to thrive despite change. So it's very different in the sense that with everything that we've been experiencing recently, it's very important to design residential communities with resilient design in mind,” she added.
Overcoming the challenges
Residential developments had to be prepared to withstand shifting climates, natural disasters, and even social change for people to be drawn to them and consider purchasing those properties. As Robinsons Land Corporation continued to push these developments, they carefully planned and rethought their approach as they launched new projects.
Go shared that there were three layers to implementing sustainability, each playing a crucial role. At the top, corporate leaders had to take charge. In companies like RLC Residences, it all started with leadership, where Lance Gokongwei, president and CEO of JG Summit Holdings, championed sustainability as a core strategy. Without his push, making lasting changes would have been much more difficult.
Next came the business side. Profit and sustainability need to go hand in hand. Decisions had to make financial sense, ensuring that design changes benefited both the company and the consumer. The final piece of the puzzle was the buyers themselves. Consumers needed to understand the value of sustainable living—even if it meant spending a little more. When leadership, smart business practices, and informed buyers came together, sustainability took root.
Occasionally, a fourth layer emerged: certification—the final touch that showed a company truly embodied sustainability. For RLC Residences, the EDGE green building certification stood out as the perfect fit after reviewing multiple certifications. Its practicality, clear savings in water and energy, and ease of communication made it a natural choice.
For RLC, sustainability was more than a marketing tool—it was a long-term commitment. By choosing EDGE, they not only certified their projects but also measured their progress, ensuring their designs continued to benefit both the environment and their business.
“It's really the responsibility of everyone, not just the government but also the private sector to really enable that change. Experts would say that it's too late, and that we can't reverse the impact of global warming, but at the same time, we can do a little bit to slow down that impact. So I think that's why RLC Residences is doing what we are doing now. Some would say it's too late, but we have to start somewhere,” Go said.
Innovations in the properties
In the pursuit of sustainability, RLC Residences discovered that reducing maintenance costs for its projects directly benefited homeowners. A study conducted for its Sierra Valley project revealed impressive savings of a peso per square meter for residents, showcasing the tangible advantages of its sustainable initiatives. This project stood out as its most advanced effort in sustainability, designed from the ground up to integrate environmentally friendly practices.
Sierra Valley Gardens featured a hydroponics farm developed in partnership with FarmTop, dedicated to producing fresh organic produce for residents. Even before the project was completed, they established a 450-square-meter space for this initiative. Each tower also included an additional 345 square meters for hydroponic farming, allowing residents to enjoy instant access to healthy food while minimizing the environmental impact of transporting goods.
To further enhance sustainability, the development incorporated solar panels to power common areas, significantly reducing electricity costs for the community. As the project evolved, RLC Residences committed to expanding its sustainability efforts through innovative designs and technologies. They also implemented rainwater catchment systems and participated in the Department of Energy’s Green Energy Option Program (GEOP) to ensure their projects utilized renewable energy sources.
Looking ahead, RLC Residences recognized that collaboration and creativity were essential to sustainable growth. By designing projects with larger windows for better ventilation and energy efficiency, they have prepared for a future where sustainability has become the norm. As industry leaders shared insights and ideas, they emphasized that while technology defined the past decade, sustainability would shape the future, ensuring a brighter, greener tomorrow.